It was a domination of epic proportions in the Ovens and King senior football preliminary final on Saturday, which saw Greta advance to the big dance with an 83-point win over Whorouly.
Stung from last week’s qualifying final loss, the Blues were in control of the game for the full four quarters, running out winners 16.18 (114) to the Lions 4.7 (31).
The defending premier's defensive pressure was insurmountable early, locking down after the Lions kicked the first of the game, keeping Whorouly to just a goal a term for the entire match.
Whorouly’s key forward Michael Newton was kept remarkably quiet, with Cody Crawford playing a very effective shutdown role.
Greta were in control through the middle and up forward, leveraging their intense pressure into a 22-point quarter time lead.
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Momentum continued to flow Greta’s way through the second term, with the repeat entries and silver service from their midfielders and half forwards putting the Lions’ defence under pressure.
The lead grew to 43 points at the half, already a comfortable advantage, but the Blues’ third term would put the final nail in Whorouly’s finals campaign.
A barrage of six goals with a further six minor scores to Greta would put the result beyond doubt, and although the Lions fought to the last, they were simply outmatched.
Greta coach Chris Dube said it was a perfect bounce-back after their disappointing output last weekend.
“It was a strong performance, I was proud to see so many guys respond from the previous week,” he said.
“We’ve got a proud bunch, and a lot of guys had their colours lowered, and I didn’t think it’d happen two weeks in a row.
“As a coaching group, it’s really pleasing to see guys given roles and execute them.
“We know that’s going to be the lynchpin of our outside stuff, how tough we are in the contest, and the composure when you know things are not always going your way but you’re still playing good footy.
“We felt we had the bulk of the play, we‘d gotten it to a healthy margin at half-time but we were under no illusion that a side like Whorouly get their tails back up if they kicked a couple of early ones.
"The message was clear about the first six or seven minutes [of the second half], about absorbing all of the punches thrown and then as that game settled in again, it was about bringing the foot down.”
For Whorouly, Josh Newton and Corey Southern were influential in parts, while Will Allen and Jessie Smith provided some speed and cleanliness with ball in hand.
Crawford took out best on ground honours for keeping the dangerous Newton to just two goals, while up forward, Harry Moran did the damage with five majors.
“One, you’ve got to put a really good player on ‘Juice’ [Newton], and Cody Crawford is that, and two, you’ve also got to defend up the ground and make sure any ball coming into him is less than ideal,” Dube said.
“‘Crawf’ kept his cool and played on a quality player, he did a fantastic job.
“Our midfielders, our wingers, our half forwards rolling up and making sure that there was a bit of dirty ball coming from the likes of Jessie [Smith], Josh Newton and Corey Southern, so Mick couldn’t get it on a silver platter.
“It was pleasing to see multiple pieces fall into place, but it really was a willing desire of guys to work for one of their teammates who was playing on a really good player.”
The win sets up a repeat senior grand final showdown with old enemies Bright this Saturday.
It was a much-closer encounter in the reserves preliminary final, with Bonnie Doon edging out the Blues twos by just seven points, 8.3 (51) to 6.8 (44).
The Bombers will face Bright in the grand final.
